District attorney clears South Strabane officer after video shows collision with suspect
The Washington County District Attorney said Wednesday that a South Strabane police officer acted appropriately after a viral video on social media appeared to show him hit a fleeing suspect with his vehicle at Trinity Point shopping plaza.
The incident occurred at about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Point Drive. shows a man running toward Trinity Circle as the police officer gets into his pickup truck to pursue him. The video shows the officer driving toward the suspect who appears to be hit by the front passenger side of the vehicle. The man was knocked to the ground but quickly got back on his feet.
South Strabane police Chief Drew Hilk did not return a phone call seeking comment Wednesday. However, on Tuesday night, Hilk issued a press release in response to the video.
“During the officer’s initial contact, the offender ran on foot from the officer. The officer returned to his vehicle and chased the offender a short distance until the officer’s vehicle and the offender contacted each other, knocking the offender to the ground,” Hilk said in the release.
According to Hilk, the man was wanted on multiple bench warrants, including one for failing to appear in Allegheny County court in an aggravated animal cruelty case.
District Attorney Jason Walsh sent a statement to media outlets Wednesday afternoon announcing the officer had been “cleared.” Walsh identified the man in the video as Trendon Mobley.
Mobley, 39, of Pittsburgh, is charged by South Strabane police with misdemeanors of resisting arrest, false identification to law enforcement, criminal mischief, trespassing and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The criminal mischief charge is connected to the damage to the police vehicle caused by the collision.
Walsh said his office handled the investigation into how the officer handled the arrest. According to Walsh, Mobley intentionally ran into the police vehicle.
Walsh describes Mobley as having a criminal record in multiple states and at least one out of state arrest warrant.
“My office has thoroughly reviewed the police report and body cam footage, it is my opinion that the officer followed all policies, procedures, and laws of this Commonwealth in the effectuation of the arrest of a dangerous offender. This matter is considered closed for investigation purposes as it relates to the circumstances surrounding the arrest of this dangerous individual,” Walsh’s statement reads.
In Allegheny County, Mobley is facing a felony of aggravated cruelty to animals. Court records show that Mobley did not appear for a scheduled plea hearing in mental health court on June 11, when the bench warrant was issued.
Earlier this year Washington County Court of Common Pleas Judge Traci McDonald issued a bench warrant for Mobley in a case in which he is charged by South Strabane police with misdemeanor trespassing and a summary offense of disorderly conduct. Per court records, Keith Zenkovich was the arresting officer in both Washington County cases.
Zenkovich wrote in the most recent criminal complaint that Mobley was soliciting money Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of Trinity Point Drive and Washington Road. Zenkovich attempted to take Mobley into custody but he fled on foot toward Trinity Circle.
“I drove my marked police vehicle with the emergency lights activated toward Trinity Circle in an attempt to cut off Mobley, Mobley ran into the side of my marked police K9 vehicle causing damage to the front passenger side fender near the passenger door, mirror and emergency lighting under the mirror,” Zenkovich wrote.
According to the complaint, Mobley continued to resist but was taken into custody. He is also accused of providing a false date of birth.
Hilk’s statement notes that an ambulance was called to treat Mobley in the department’s holding cell “for what appeared to be minor injuries.” Mobley was then taken to UPMC Washington Hospital for treatment before he was incarcerated in the Washington County jail.
The aggravated cruelty to animal charge was filed by Pittsburgh police in December 2022. According to the criminal complaint, Mobley is accused of stabbing a dog multiple times. The dog suffered stab wounds to both shoulders and blunt force trauma to its head.
Mobley is represented in the animal cruelty case by Allegheny County Public Defender Art Ettinger. Ettinger declined to comment on the case, and clarified he would not be involved in Mobley’s defense for the recent charges.
The video of Mobley’s arrest in South Strabane was posted to Facebook by Cierra Bogochenko, who said Wednesday that she was driving behind the police vehicle as they both turned onto Trinity Point.
She saw the officer attempt to arrest Mobley, and began filming when Mobley ran.
“I tried pulling off to the side to get out of the way, and that’s when the cop took off and made connection with the man. That’s when I quit recording because I was in complete shock that even happened,” Bogochenko said.
Bogochenko, of Amity, added that she did not think Zenkovich was in the wrong.
“Do I think that the situation could have been handled a little better? Yes. But I also understand the cop needed to do what he needed to do, considering there were other establishments that the man could have ran into, and he was known for violent tendencies,” Bogochenko said.
Mobley was arraigned on the latest charges Tuesday night before District Judge Joshua Kanalis, who sent him to the Washington County jail without bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. Sept. 3.